Before marrying and becoming a mom, I had completed one year of college. As I witnessed my girlfriends and the women in my family earn their college degrees, I always felt lackingโ-nowhere near as educated, or capable as those who had walked across a commencement stage and received that valuable diploma.
I carried that sense with me for years, even speaking publicly about it, particularly when presenting to audiences of young women. It was at one of those presentations at my high school alma mater, Mount St. Mary Academy, that my perspective on my lack of a college education began to change.
After delivering my speech on my experiences as a newspaper/magazine writer and author, a faculty member approached me. She was clearly a senior member of the staff and wasted no time in delivering the message she intended
โWhy do you think you need a college degree? Your life experiences have given you an education equal to anything you could have learned in a classroom. Remember that.โ
Blinking back tears, I thanked the woman for her kind words. Then, over the next twenty years, I did my best to follow her clear and pointed directive.
This week I worked as part of The Dry Creek Group (DCG) in producing the D'Youville University Commencement Ceremony. Bryan Wittman is the Principal of DCG. He is also the former Vice-President of Global Special Events for Disney.
Translation: the DYU Commencement included red carpets, bright lights, multiple cameras connected to movie-sized screens, two DJโs, rooms filled with food and decorations, an NFL Star Keynote speaker, a massive fireworks display andโฆ.wait for itโฆ.an audience participation moment of clapping feet together to set a Guinness World Record.
Yeahโฆ.it was an extravaganza!
To pull off such an event takes months of planning and days of rehearsals. One of the early rehearsals included practicing the graduates walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. Since the graduates were otherwise occupied, members of our DCG crew stood in for themโฆincluding me.
The task was simple. Walk up the steps to the stage. Wait for your โnameโ to be called. Walk to center stage where the ceremony producer was standing-in for DYUโs President. Pause. Shake hands. Smile for the person acting as the graduation photographer. Walk offstage.
As I watched my fellow staffers perfectly execute the task at hand, my mind left the reality of the rehearsal. Standing there, I became a student at an actual graduation waiting to receive my college diploma.
As the stage director gave me the signal, I walked toward the woman holding the valued leather-covered document. As I reached her, I extended my hand and together we smiled for the memorable Kodak moment.
Then I was offstage, once again just me. Yet a magically fulfilled version of myself. I had finally walked the walk that I had dreamed about all of my adult life.
Amid the hoopla of DYUโs Graduation Day, I passed by one of the amazing lighted balloon displays set up for graduate photo ops. This particular one proclaimed that whoever was in the picture was a DYU Graduate. Tempted, I paused. I wasnโt really a part of the DYU Class of 2026, but stillโฆ.
As I stood debating, a woman came up to me, offering a warm smile and kind words, โCan I take the picture for you?โ Before I lost my nerve, I said, โSure!
It might not be a fancy diploma in a leather cover, but it works!
